Thompson on Hollywood

Sex Rating Watch: Blue Valentine vs. Black Swan vs. Love & Other Drugs

- Directors of two potential Oscar nominees are attacking the MPAA's rating system. Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) and Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan) state their cases in the LAT against the questionable standards that land a film with a NC-17 rating (whichBlue Valentine and the Weinstein Co. are currently fighting.

By Sophia Savage
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December 6, 2010 5:26 AM
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Awards Update: Awards Groups Boost "How to Train Your Dragon," "King's Speech," "Ghost Writer"

The status of DreamWork Animation's How to Train Your Dragon as an Oscar frontrunner was confirmed by the International Animation Society's Annie Awards nominations. The film led the pack with 14 nominations. Also nominated for best animated feature were Universal/Illumination's Despicable Me, Sony Pictures Classic/Django Films' The Illusionist, Disney's Tangled, and Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 3. The withdrawal of Disney/Pixar from the organization seems to have had little impact on their nominations. The five best features would have looked like locks for the best animated Oscar category but unfortunately, this year only three will be named. (Full list of Annie nominees below.)

By Anne Thompson
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December 6, 2010 4:54 AM
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Inception Dream Levels In Real Time

Still puzzled over Inception's dream levels? Maybe this will help: Inception in real time:

By Sophia Savage
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December 6, 2010 4:31 AM
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Spider-Man Musical Is Media Live Wire; Hits Saturday Night Live

From New York Magazine to 60 Minutes (video below), Julie Taymor's ambitious $60-million musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark has been generating as many media stories as stage accidents. Now Saturday Night Live has gotten into the act:

By Anne Thompson
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December 5, 2010 6:52 AM
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Weekend Box Office: Families Flock to Holdovers Tangled and Harry Potter, Black Swan Soars

Holdovers held sway at the tepid post-Thanksgiving box office, as families continued to flock to Tangled and Harry Potter and the Deathy Hallows--Part I. Martial arts flick The Warriors Way stumbled out of the gate, while fest-fave Black Swan soared in limited release, reports Anthony D'Alessandro:After feasting away at a smorgasbord of offerings over the Thanksgiving five-day stretch, moviegoers decided to take a nap this weekend. Even though the post-holiday frame is notorious for being of one of the lowest weekends of the year as audiences return to their routines, family box office champs generally dominate. Sure enough, Disney’s Tangled and Warner Bros.’ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part I held the top two spots with $21.5 million and $16.7 million respectively. Battling for third place were Cher musical Burlesque and runaway train actioner Unstoppable at $6.1 million apiece.

By Anthony D'Alessandro
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December 5, 2010 5:48 AM
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Polanski's Ghost Writer Scores Six at European Film Awards

The European Film Awards are not predictive of Oscars. But six wins for The Ghost Writer moves the film to the top of the screener pile. Maybe some folks will watch it now. One of my favorite films of last year, it shares with Shutter Island and The Town a formal elegance and control. These films are well-made across the board. But they are also genre films, accessible and fun--as opposed to high art. That is the question. This is no The Pianist. Summit is pushing the movie for awards consideration.

By Anne Thompson
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December 4, 2010 9:52 AM
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International Documentary Award Winners Are "Waste Land,""Women Rebel"

Lucy Walker's Oscar short-list documentary Waste Land took two top honors as distinguished feature as well as the previously announced Pare Lorentz Award at the 2010 International Documentary Association (IDA) Awards Friday night, hosted by Morgan Spurlock. Waste Land follows artist Vik Muniz on a journey from his home in Brooklyn to his native Brazil to visit the world's largest garbage dump.

By Anne Thompson
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December 4, 2010 6:00 AM
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Applause Knockout Paprika Steen Talks Danish Career, Actors, American Directors

Friday night TOH met with Danish star Paprika Steen before her appearance at the American Cinematheque's sneak preview of Applause, as the film started its Oscar-qualifying run at Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre. The flip cam interview is below.

By Sophia Savage
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December 4, 2010 5:59 AM
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TRON: Legacy Early Reviews: "Visually Stunning," "Flimsy," "Sloppy," "Immersive"

Well, someone let the cat out of the bag on Disney's Tron: Legacy sequel: reviews weren't supposed to to go live until after the London premiere (the Livestream December 5 is here). A sampling of reviews is below. Some like it, some don't.